(ANS - Pélifőldszantkereszt) - In conjunction with the Beatification of the Salesian Brother Stephen Sándor, a meeting of Salesian Brothers took place at the Retreat Centre at Pélifőldszantkereszt. The meeting was organized by the North Europe Region and coordinated by Fr Zenon Klawikowski. More than 80 Salesian Brothers from different European provinces took part. They shared days of fellowship, formation and intense Salesian spirit, culminating with their participation in the solemn liturgy of Beatification.

At the meeting on 17-18 October there were four talks on the witness of Stephen Sándor, the present situation of the vocation of the Salesian Brother and the present-day challenges.  Fr Pierluigi Cameroni, Postulator General, gave some details of the biography of Blessed Stephen and some features of his spirituality. He mentioned in particular his deep sense of God and full availability to God’s will, his attraction to Don Bosco and sense of belonging to the Salesian community, his encouraging and animating presence among the young, his sharing in the family spirit, his spiritual life marked by personal prayer and his sharing in the prayer of the community, his total consecration to the Salesian mission lived in dedicated service of apprentices and young people. He lived a life full of the love of Christ, even to the total gift of self.

Fr Marek Chrzan, Councillor for the Northern European Region, gave a talk in which he highlighted the challenges that exist in the region and the opportunities there are for the Salesian presence in a very complex situation with varied history, culture and traditions.

Fr Francis Cereda, Councillor for Formation, spoke about the revision of the Ratio, and specifically the training programme proposed for brothers. Bro. Jean Paul Muller, Economer General, looked at some of the dynamics and processes that are part of consecrated life, from the point of view of experience. He highlighted the need to help each other to live the evangelical counsels with radicalism in community, especially through the practice of fraternal correction and greater co-responsibility for our shared vocation.

Fr Adrian Bregolin, Vicar of the Rector Major, presided at the Eucharist.

This meeting was a response to the invitation of the Rector Major to plan some initiative in every province to celebrate our acceptance of the gift of the Beatification of Stephen Sándor and to renew our commitment to live and promote the vocation of the Salesian Brother. The Brothers who attended expressed great satisfaction for the way the meeting evolved.

Published  22/10/2013